In addition, hackminites exposed to long-wavelength (365 nm) light turn neon-orange and glow in the dark. Hackmanite returns its original pallid appearance when exposure discontinues but it takes from fifteen minutes to six hours – this time is individual for every specimen. However, once they are brought to a source of ultraviolet light and exposed for 5-10 minutes, they change their hue to a vibrant blue-violet. When just being quarried, stones from Afghanistan and Myanmar are colorless, creamy white, pale purple, or violet-gray. Under the influence of any source of ultraviolet light (the sun or a UV lamp), the stone changes its color. The most curious property of hackmanite is tenebrescence (also known as photochromism). Hackminite is a sulfur-bearing variety of sodalite belonging to the feldspathoid mineral group – it is similar to feldspar but its structure and silica composition is divergent. Physico-Chemical Properties of Hackmanite They are highly prized by gemstone collectors and designers for their distinct optical qualities and unsurpassed aesthetic beauty. Today, high-quality hackmanites are also found in Myanmar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. It wasn't until 1991 that gem-quality transparent hackmanite was discovered at the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. However, the mineral obtained its name in honor of another geologist, Victor Axel Hackman, a professor at the University of Helsinki (Finland), who made an impressive contribution to the study of the mineral.įor more than a hundred years since its discovery, hackmanite has remained predominantly a collector's stone.
The very first specimens were found in Greenland in 1896 during the expedition led by the geologist L.K. While scientists are still speculating about the nature of its color-shifting properties, fashionistas and gemstone enthusiasts are vying to add the scintillating stone to their collections.
Hackmanite is a newcomer on the gemstone market but it already bathes in admiration for its unique optical properties. Physico-Chemical Properties of HackmaniteĪ stone able to change its color and glow in the dark – without any manipulations in a laboratory – deserves a lot of praise.
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